Role of Witnesses in Criminal Trials in India

The role of a witness is critical in any country's criminal justice system. They are an integral part of any civilized society's legal system. Their every statement is crucial because it has the power to influence the course of the entire case. They set into motion the criminal justice machinery by providing proof of the commission of an offense. Witnesses, who are the most key participants in the procedure, are frequently threatened or coerced to amend or withdraw their testimony by the parties involved in the case. As a result, witnesses, who are thought to be the eyes and ears of the court, are becoming hostile with unforeseeable inconsistency. Witnesses frequently become hostile when high-profile individuals are engaged in the conduct of crimes, resulting in the failure of the criminal justice system. As a result, safeguarding witnesses becomes critical to achieving the criminal justice system's primary goal. An earnest attempt is thus made to throw light on the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 and its features envisaged by the Parliament and approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.